"Deliberately grounded on a tiny reef in the #SouthChinaSea, part of an island chain claimed by the two Asian countries, the #BRPSierraMadre is now the unlikely base for a detachment of Filipino marines who stand guard over the atoll, scanning the turquoise waters for Chinese ships." #AyunginShoal#SecondThomasShoal#Philippines
#Washington’s focus on competition with #China since the mid-to-late 2010s sparked changes, the report says, and its operations with allies #Japan, the #Philippines and #Australia are more important.
The shift towards more frequent and larger exercises with more partners followed prior trends but along a much steeper trajectory that is set to continue beyond 2024. #SouthChinaSea
The 2024 dialogue will be held from May 31 to June 2, with Philippine President #FerdinandMarcosJr scheduled to give the keynote speech in the evening of May 31.
This will be the first time a Philippine head of state will deliver the keynote speech at the annual event. #Philippines
“We are ready to strengthen the cooperation with the #Philippines on #MaritimeSecurity in the region by sharing information, conducting threat assessment and building the capacity of your national #CoastWatch center and your #CoastGuard,” #vonDerLeyen told Marcos as she read a joint press statement. #SouthChinaSea
July 1 is the Philippine Air Force's 76th anniversary. We'll see if the new Secretary of Defense (Gibo Teodoro) actually signs the contract.
"For #Manila, it is a question of strengthening its defensive capacities, particularly in the face of the rise in tension with #China, whether around the question of #Beijing's #SouthChinaSea claims, as Sino-US tensions around #Taiwan."